Sign up to receive free email alerts when patent applications with chosen keywords are publishedSIGN UP

Abstract:

A printing management program is disclosed. The program causes a computer
to function as a printing job accepting unit which accepts a printing job
from a pre-process within a printing process; a printing setting change
accepting unit which accepts, from a user, a change of a printing setting
which is set for the accepted printing job; a specifying unit which
specifies a pagination setting for the printing job that is set in the
pre-process; and a warning unit which provides a warning on a change of
the printing setting depending on the specified pagination setting.

Claims:

1. A printing management program which causes a computer to function as a
printing job accepting unit which accepts a printing job from a
pre-process within a printing process; a printing setting change
accepting unit which accepts, from a user, a change of a printing setting
which is set for the accepted printing job; a specifying unit which
specifies a pagination setting for the printing job that is set in the
pre-process; and a warning unit which provides a warning on the change of
the printing setting depending on the specified pagination setting.

2. The printing management program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
printing setting is a post-processing setting: and wherein the warning
unit provides the warning on the change of the printing setting depending
on the pagination setting which is set in the pre-process when the
post-processing setting is not made in the accepted printing job, or even
after the post-processing setting which is set in the accepted printing
job is released.

3. The printing management program as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
warning unit refers to a table in which is recorded, for each pagination
setting of the printing job, the post-processing setting collated
therewith, from which post-processing setting intended printing results
are obtained, and provides a warning on the change of the printing
setting when there is the change other than a release of the printing
setting that corresponds to the pagination setting of the printing job.

4. The printing management program as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
pagination setting of the printing job is specified depending on a
pagination attribute added to the printing job.

5. The printing management program as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
specifying unit specifies the pagination setting of the printing job
depending on the post-processing setting which is set in the printing
job.

6. The printing management program as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
specifying unit specifies the pagination setting of the printing job
depending on a page arrangement of the printing job.

7. The printing management program as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
warning unit provides the warning on the change of the printing setting
depending on the pagination setting of the printing job.

8. A printing management apparatus, comprising: a printing job accepting
unit which accepts a printing job from a pre-process within a printing
process; a printing setting change accepting unit which accepts, from a
user, a change of a printing setting which is set for the accepted
printing job; a specifying unit which specifies a pagination setting for
the printing job that is set in the pre-process; and a warning unit which
provides a warning on the change of the printing setting depending on the
specified pagination setting.

9. A printing system which includes a printing management apparatus and
an image forming apparatus, wherein the printing management apparatus
includes a printing job accepting unit which accepts a printing job from
a pre-process within a printing process; a printing setting change
accepting unit which accepts, from a user, a change of a printing setting
which is set for the accepted printing job; and a warning unit which
provides a warning on the change of the printing setting depending on a
pagination setting for the printing job that is set by the pre-process.

10. A printing system, comprising: a printing management program as
claimed in claim 1 that is executable by a computer; and an image forming
apparatus.

[0002] In a commercial printing industry in which printed matter (a
catalog, an advertisement, etc.) is received from a customer, a printed
output which the customer desires is generated from the printed matter,
and the printed output is delivered to the customer to gain remuneration,
multiple steps from receiving of the printed matter to delivering are
followed to conduct operations. The steps from the receiving of the
printed matter to the delivering include submitting of a manuscript for
the printed matter from the customer; accepting of printing conditions of
the printed output; color correcting, layout correcting, stitch position
correcting as pre-press operations; proof printing to confirm pre-press
results of the customer; printing operations; printing stitching after
printing; a post-process treatment such as compression bonding; and
delivering of the printed output to the customer. Increase/decrease
occurs for the steps from receiving of the printed matter to delivering
depending on the printing conditions of the printed output which the
customer desires.

[0003] In the commercial printing industry, volume printing of printed
outputs is handled using the above-described steps due to a large number
of orders received from the customers to provide a high-volume printing
of the printed matter. Moreover, with respect to the printed matter for
the high-volume printing, printing conditions for the printed output from
the customer are often fixed. Thus, in the commercial printing industry,
a printed output which the customer desires is generated in a printing
cycle in which the high-volume printing is performed with one determined
printing condition and printing of a lot is completed, after which the
printing condition is changed and the high-volume printing is performed
again.

[0004] In this printing cycle, the above-described multiple steps often
occur when the printing condition is changed. Therefore, when there is no
change to the printing condition, a commercial printing vendor can
perform consecutive printing within the same step, making it possible to
perform an efficient high-volume printing operation.

[0005] Recently, in the commercial printing industry, a POD (Print on
Demand) market is emerging in which relatively small-lot printed matter
called the POD is delivered to a customer in a short lead time. In the
POD market, orders are often received from multiple customers. As a
result, in the POD market, printing conditions of printed outputs and
printed matter for which a manuscript is submitted to the commercial
printing vendor are often diverse.

[0006] At the same time, in recent years, digitization of the printed
matter has been in progress, so that control is conducted for generating
the printed matter using a computer. For example, a technique called a
workflow is emerging in which a manuscript for printed matter is
submitted over a network as electronic data, and the above-described
multiple steps are controlled. For example, the above-described workflow
also includes a workflow in which a printing operation with the
above-described multiple steps is defined with a job ticket called a JDF
(Job Definition Format) and the printing operation is controlled with a
printing system.

[0007] With such changes in the printing environment, the commercial
printing vendors have promoted computerization of the printing system for
generating the printed matter for which an order is received. On the
other hand, it is becoming necessary for the commercial printing vendor
to build a printing system which can handle diverse printing conditions
of the printed output from the customer. Moreover, in order to generate
diverse printed outputs as a desire of the customer, it is also becoming
necessary to respond in system aspects such as introducing multiple
printer apparatuses and device (peripheral) apparatuses and to respond in
operational step aspects such as changing of multiple steps in a
relatively short cycle.

[0008] It is becoming necessary for the commercial printing vendor to
respond in the above-described manner, but it is also becoming necessary
to make a further operational efficiency improvement for generating
profits. Simplifying operations is one measure which leads to improving
the operational efficiency.

[0009] In a production printing (PP) business, pagination and printing
setting processes in multiple applications and DFE (Digital front end)
are performed as pre-processing (a pre-press step). Of the printing
setting processes, a finisher process involves many setting items
compared to a multi-functional printer (MFP), such as various cutting and
folding types besides stapling and punching.

[0010] There is a related art scheme which designates in advance, with a
job ticket, etc., a post-processing (finishing) apparatus which performs
a finisher process. Moreover, a related art scheme is also known in which
even a printing job designated in advance by the post-processing
apparatus is suitably carried out using the post-processing apparatus
selected arbitrarily based on a judgment of an operator himself to
suitably carry out an operation using a usable post-processing unit (see
FIG. 1, for example.)

Patent Documents

[0011] Patent Document 1 JP2006-123414A

[0012] In the PP business, it is necessary to allow canceling (removing)
of a stapling process from the printing setting even when a pagination
process for a weekly magazine is performed in the pre-processing, for
example, taking into account the finisher process performed in a
post-processing apparatus off-line. However, it may not be determined
whether a change of the printing setting to the finisher process that is
in conflict with the pagination process such as the punching process or
the stapling process for a one point on the left or two points on the
right is performed erroneously or performed intentionally by an operator.
In the PP business, there is a problem that it does not make sense to
simply prohibit a change in a printing setting since the finisher process
which is in conflict with the pagination process may be performed
intentionally.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In light of the problems as described above, an object of the
present invention is to provide a printing management program, a printing
management apparatus, a printing management method, and a printing system
which make it possible to provide a warning against a change in a
printing setting for post-processing that is likely to have been
performed erroneously.

[0014] According to an embodiment of the present invention, printing
management program is provided which causes a computer to function as a
printing job accepting unit which accepts a printing job from a
pre-process within a printing process; a printing setting change
accepting unit which accepts, from a user, a change of a printing setting
which is set for the accepted printing job; a specifying unit which
specifies a pagination setting for the printing job that is set in the
pre-process; and a warning unit which provides a warning on a change of
the printing setting depending on the specified pagination setting.

[0015] The present invention may also take a form such that elements,
representations, or arbitrary combinations of the elements of the present
invention are applied to a method, an apparatus, a system, a computer
program, a recording medium, a data structure, etc.

[0016] The present invention makes it possible to provide a printing
management program, a printing management apparatus, a printing
management method, and a printing system that make it possible to provide
a warning against a change in a printing setting for post-processing that
is likely to have been performed erroneously.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention
will become more apparent from the following detailed descriptions when
read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018]FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an example which
includes a printing system to which the present invention is applied;

[0023]FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a conflict between
a pagination setting and a printing setting;

[0024]FIG. 7 is an image diagram of an exemplary job ticket into which a
pagination attribute is inserted;

[0025]FIG. 8 is an image diagram of a page arrangement when a pagination
setting for a weekly magazine is performed;

[0026]FIG. 9 is an image diagram of an exemplary process which determines
whether the pagination setting for the weekly magazine is performed;

[0027] FIG. 10 is an image diagram of a page arrangement when a pagination
setting for a mini-book is performed;

[0028] FIG. 11 is an image diagram of an exemplary process which
determines whether it is the pagination setting for the mini-book;

[0029] FIG. 12 is an image diagram of a page arrangement when a speed
pagination setting is performed; and

[0030] FIG. 13 is an image diagram of an exemplary process which
determines whether it is the speed pagination setting.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0031] Throughout the drawings for explaining the embodiments, same
letters are used for those elements having the same functions, so that
repetitive explanations are omitted.

[0032]FIG. 1 is a system configuration diagram of an example which
includes a printing system to which the present invention is applied. In
the system configuration in FIG. 1, a user client 1 and a printing system
2 are connected via a network 3 such as the Internet. The user client 1
is a computer used for a customer to entrust a commercial printing vendor
with printing operations. The printing system 2 is a system which is used
by an operator of the commercial printing vendor, etc.

[0033] Moreover, the printing system 2 includes a management client 11, a
print server 12, one or more printer apparatuses 13, and a network 14
such as a LAN. The management client 11, the print server 12, and the
printer apparatuses 13 are connected via the network 14. A
post-processing apparatus is not shown.

[0034] The customer operates an application in the user client to transmit
a printing job which includes printing data (contents) and a job ticket
for a document to be printed to the print server 12. The management
client 11 is a computer used by an operator such as the commercial
printing vendor to manage the entrusted printing operations.

[0035] The operator uses a WWW browser from the management client 11 to
access a Web user interface of the print server 12 and perform management
of the printing system 2, printing starting, printing stopping, deleting,
searching for a printing job for printing, etc. The print server 12 is an
example of the printing management apparatus. The print server 12 causes
the printer apparatus 13 to print the printing job for which the printing
operation is entrusted from the user client 1. Moreover, the print server
12 graphically displays an operating condition of each printer apparatus
13, etc., onto a screen in real time. According to a control of the print
server 12, the printer apparatus 13 generates a printing image from the
printing job, and prints it on a predetermined sheet of paper.

[0036] The print server 12 is realized with a PC with a hardware
configuration as shown in FIG. 2, for example. FIG. 2 is a hardware
configuration diagram of an exemplary PC. The PC 20 includes an input
apparatus 21, an output apparatus 22, a recording medium reading
apparatus 23, an auxiliary storage apparatus 24, a main storage apparatus
25, an arithmetic processing apparatus 26, and an interface apparatus 27.

[0037] The input apparatus 21 includes a keyboard, a mouse, etc. The input
apparatus 21 is used for inputting various signals. The output apparatus
22 includes a display apparatus, etc. The output apparatus 22 is used for
displaying various windows and data, etc. The interface apparatus 27
includes a modem, a LAN card, etc. The interface apparatus 27 is used for
connecting to the network 14.

[0038] A printing management program installed in the printer server 12 is
a part of various programs which control the PC 20. The printing
management program is provided by distributing the recording medium 28,
downloading from the network 14, etc.

[0039] For the recording medium 28, various types of recording media may
be used such as a recording medium which optically, electrically, or
magnetically records information such as a CD-ROM, a flexible disk, a
magneto-optical disk, etc., and a semiconductor memory which electrically
records information such as a ROM or a flash memory.

[0040] When the recording medium 28 having the recorded printing
management program therein is set in the recording medium reading
apparatus 23, the printing management program is copied from the
recording medium 28 to the auxiliary storage apparatus 24 by the
recording medium reading apparatus 23. The printing management program
which is downloaded from the network 14, etc., is stored in the auxiliary
storage apparatus 24 via the interface apparatus 27.

[0041] The auxiliary storage apparatus 24 stores the installed printing
management program, a required file, data, etc. The main storage
apparatus 25 receives the printing management program from the auxiliary
storage apparatus 24 at the time of launching the printing management
program for execution. Then, the arithmetic processing apparatus 26
realizes various processes as described below according to the printing
management program stored in the main storage apparatus 25.

[0042] Similarly, the user client 1 and the management client are realized
by a PC such as one shown in FIG. 2, for example. The arithmetic
processing apparatus 26 of the user client 1 implements various processes
as described below according to an application stored in the main storage
apparatus 25.

[0043] The user client 1 and the print server 12 are realized with a
processing block shown in FIG. 3, for example. In FIG. 3, the management
client 11, which is shown in FIG. 1, is not shown. FIG. 3 is a processing
block diagram of an example of a user client and a print server.

[0045] The UI control unit 31 controls a UI which accepts a pagination
process, a printing setting process, and a printing instruction from the
operator. The job ticket generating unit 32 generates a job ticket with
contents set by the pagination process and the printing setting process
in the UI control unit 31. Moreover, the printing execution unit 33
performs a printing process of a printing job for which there is a
printing instruction at the UI control unit 31. With the printing
process, the printing job is transmitted to the print server 12. The
printing setting process may also be arranged to be performed at the
print server 12 without performing it at the user client 1.

[0046] The job accepting unit 41 of the print server 12 accepts a printing
job from the user client 1. The job ticket saving unit 42 saves a job
ticket appended to the printing job accepted by the job accepting unit
41. The job ticket analyzing unit 43 analyzes the contents set in the job
ticket appended. The UI control unit 44 reflects the contents analyzed by
the job ticket analyzing unit 43 to the UI. The UI control unit 44
controls the UI which accepts the printing setting process and the
printing instruction from an operator.

[0047] The job ticket generation unit 45 reflects contents set again by
the printing setting process at the UI control unit 44 to the job ticket.
The printing execution unit 46 accepts a printing instruction from the UI
control unit 44. The pagination process determining unit 47 determines
the pagination setting as described below. The conflict determining unit
48 checks whether there occurs a conflict between a printing setting
which is changed by the print server 12 and a pagination setting which is
set by the pagination process. If there occurs a conflict, the conflict
determining unit 48 causes the UI control unit 44 to display a warning
screen as described below. If no conflict occurs, or if the operator
instructs a printing execution even if a conflict occurs, the printing
execution unit 46 performs a printing process of the printing job for
which an instruction for printing has been made by the UI control unit
44. With the printing process, the printing job is transmitted to the
printer apparatus 13.

[0048]FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an example which shows a processing
procedure of the print server 12. A processing procedure in FIG. 4 shows
a procedure from a process in which the print server 12 accepts a
printing job from the user client 1 to a process in which a printing
process is performed. FIG. 4 shows a processing procedure in which a
printing setting which is set by a printing setting process at the user
client 1 is changed at the print server 12, after which it is determined
whether a conflict occurs between a pagination setting which is set with
a pagination process and a printing setting which is changed at the print
server 12; and a warning is displayed if there is the conflict.

[0049] In step S1, the job accepting unit 41 accepts a printing job from
the user client 1. In step S2, the job ticket saving unit 42 saves a job
ticket appended to the printing job accepted by the job accepting unit 41
into the auxiliary storage apparatus 24 or the main storage apparatus 25.

[0050] In step S3, the job ticket analyzing unit 43 analyzes the contents
set in the appended job ticket. The UI control unit 44 reflects the
contents analyzed by the job ticket analyzing unit 43 into the UI. The UI
control unit 44 accepts a change in a printing setting from an operator.
The UI control unit 44 reflects a printing setting which is set again by
the operator in the printing setting process into the UI. In step S4, it
is assumed that the UI control unit 44 has accepted the printing
instruction from the operator.

[0051] Moreover, in step S5, the pagination process determining unit 47
determines the pagination setting as described below. The conflict
determining unit 48 determines whether there is a conflict between a
printing setting changed by the print server 12 and a pagination setting
set by the pagination process by the user client 1.

[0052] In step S6, if there occurs a conflict, the conflict determining
unit 48 causes the UI control unit 44 to display a below-described
warning screen in step S7. In step S8, the UI control unit 44 accepts an
instruction from the operator that printing is to be continued or an
instruction that printing is not to be continued. When the instruction is
received from the operator that printing is not to be continued, the job
ticket analyzing unit 43 again performs step S3.

[0053] When there is no conflict in step S6 or an instruction is received
in step S8 from the operator that printing is to be continued, the job
ticket generating unit 45 reflects the contents set again by the printing
setting process at the UI control unit 44 into the job ticket. After the
contents set again by the printing setting process at the UI control unit
44 are reflected, the printing job is transmitted to the printer
apparatus 13.

[0054]FIG. 5 is an image diagram of an exemplary warning screen. A
warning screen 100 in FIG. 5 is an exemplary display of a warning message
which indicates that there is a possibility of a conflict occurring
between the pagination setting set by the pagination process at the user
client 1 and the printing setting changed at the print server 12. The
warning screen 100 is provided with a button 101 which accepts an
instruction from an operator to continue printing and a button 102 which
accepts an instruction not to continue printing.

[0055]FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining a conflict between
a pagination setting and a printing setting. FIG. 6 shows a
post-processing setting from which intended printing results are obtained
for each pagination setting. The post-processing setting is included in
the printing setting. For example, when there is a pagination setting for
a weekly magazine, "stapling: 2 center locations", "folding: folding into
two", and "double-face/single-face; double face" may be set as a printing
setting to produce a printed output which is stitched in a weekly
magazine-type stitching. Therefore, when there is the pagination setting
for the weekly magazine, changing the printing setting of the "stapling:
2 center locations", "folding: folding into two", and
"double-face/single-face; double face" could lead to unintended printing
results.

[0056] An example of the unintended printing results is such that, if a
weekly magazine-type setting is provided, when the printing setting of
the "stapling: 2 center locations" is changed to "stapling: upper-left",
the page arrangement no longer makes sense, which could lead to
unintended printing results.

[0057] Moreover, when there is a pagination setting for a mini-book,
"folding: folding into two", "double-face/single-face; double face", and
"stapling: no" may be set as a printing setting to produce a printed
output which is stitched in a mini-book type stitching. Therefore, when
the pagination setting for the mini-book is provided, changing the
printing setting of the "folding: folding into two",
"double-face/single-face; double face", and "stapling: no" could lead to
unintended printing results.

[0058] Moreover, if a speed pagination setting (a setting for cutting into
portions after printing, and overlapping the cut portions into one
complete whole) is provided, setting of "double face/single face: double
face or single face", "stapling; no", and "folding: no" as a printing
setting makes it possible to produce a speed-stitched printed output. For
the speed pagination setting, a page arrangement for pagination differs
depending on a printing setting of "double face/single face". Therefore,
when the speed pagination setting is provided, changing the printing
setting of the "stapling: no", "folding: no", and
"double-face/single-face; double face or single face" could lead to
unintended printing results.

[0059] Changing the printing setting used in the explanations of FIG. 6
refers to a process such as changing a printing setting of "stapling"
from "two center locations" to "upper left". The process of changing a
printing setting of "stapling" from "two center locations" to "no" is to
cancel (remove) the printing setting, so that it is to be distinguished
from the above-described process of changing the printing setting.

[0060] As described above, in the PP business, it is necessary to allow
canceling (removing) of the stapling process from the printing setting
even when the pagination process for the weekly magazine is performed in
the pre-processing, for example, taking into account the finisher process
to be performed in the post-processing apparatus off-line.

[0061] Thus, in the process of checking whether there occurs a conflict
between a printing setting changed at the print server 12 and a
pagination setting which is set by the pagination process at the user
client 1 in step S5 in FIG. 4, what changes a printing setting to one
other than "no" is determined as a conflict.

[0062] Below, a method of determining a pagination setting to be performed
in S5 is explained. In step S5, the pagination setting is determined by
any one or a combination of below-described determining methods 1 to 3.

[0063] The determining method 1 for the pagination setting is to insert,
into a job ticket, a pagination attribute which indicates a pagination
setting (a weekly magazine, a mini-book, speed, etc.) at the user client
1 side. FIG. 7 is an image diagram of an exemplary job ticket into which
the pagination attribute is inserted. Into the job ticket in FIG. 7 is
inserted a pagination attribute for a weekly magazine "Binding=Magazine".

[0064] For example, the job ticket generating unit 32 of the user client 1
appends the pagination attribute to the job ticket. The pagination
process determining unit 47 of the print server 12 may determine the
pagination setting using the pagination attribute appended to the job
ticket.

[0065] A determining method 2 of the pagination setting is to determine
the pagination setting from a post-processing setting. In the determining
method 2 of the pagination setting, a pagination setting is determined
from a relationship of a post-processing setting from which intended
printing results are obtained and the pagination setting shown in FIG. 6.

[0066] For example, the pagination process determining unit 47 determines
the pagination setting from the post-processing setting of the job ticket
saved by the job ticket saving unit 42. If the post-processing setting of
"stapling: two center locations", "folding: folding into two", "double
face/single face: double face" is set in the job ticket saved by the job
ticket saving unit 42, the pagination process determining unit 47 may
determine the pagination setting of the weekly magazine from a
relationship of the post-processing setting from which intended printing
results are obtained and the pagination setting shown in FIG. 6.

[0067] If the post-processing setting of "folding: folding into two",
"double face/single face: double face", and "stapling: no" is set in the
job ticket saved by the job ticket saving unit 42, the pagination process
determining unit 47 may determine the pagination setting of the mini-book
from a relationship of the post-processing setting from which intended
printing results are obtained and the pagination setting shown in FIG. 6.

[0068] Moreover, a determining method 3 of the pagination setting is to
estimate a position (for example, a position at a lower left portion or a
upper left portion of the sheet) at which there is likely to be a page
number from a direction of opening to analyze an image, to estimate a
page number from the analyzed image, and to determine the pagination
setting from a page arrangement.

[0069] First, determining a pagination setting for a weekly magazine which
uses the determining method 3 of the pagination setting is described.
FIG. 8 is an image diagram of a page arrangement for performing
pagination setting for the weekly magazine. As shown in FIG. 8, the page
arrangement for performing the pagination setting for the weekly magazine
is such that adding 1 to a smaller page number on the N-th face causes it
to equal a smaller page number of the N+1-th face and that subtracting 1
from a larger page number on the Nth face causes it to equal a larger
page number of the N+1-th face. Then, the pagination process determining
unit 47 uses regularity of the page arrangement shown in FIG. 8 to
determine whether it is the pagination setting for the weekly magazine.

[0070]FIG. 9 is an image diagram of an exemplary process which determines
whether it is the pagination setting for the weekly magazine.

[0071] In step S11, the pagination process determining unit 47 initializes
a variable. The pagination process determining unit 47 sets a total
number of printing faces of a paginated manuscript as a value of a
variable PrintFaces. Moreover, a variable N is set to 1 as a counter. In
step S12, the pagination process determining unit 47 records a page
number on the left side on the N-th face into a variable LP and stores a
page number on the right side on the N-th face into a variable RP.
Moreover, in step S13, the pagination process determining unit 47 records
a page number on the left side on the (N+1)th face in a variable NLP and
a page number on the right side on the (N+1)th face into a variable NRP.

[0072] In step S14, the pagination process determining unit 47 determines
whether LP<RP. If not LP<RP, the pagination process determining
unit 47 determines whether NLP=RP+1 and NRP=LP-1 in step S15. If not
(NLP=RP+1 and NRP=LP-1), the pagination process determining unit 47
determines that it is not the pagination setting for the weekly magazine,
and ends the process shown in FIG. 9. If NLP=RP+1 and NRP=LP-1, the
pagination process determining unit 47 adds 1 to the variable N in step
S17.

[0073] In step S14, if LP<RP, the pagination process determining unit
47 determines whether NRP=LP+1 and NLP=RP-1 in step S16. If not (NRP=LP+1
and NLP=RP-1), the pagination process determining unit 47 determines that
it is not the pagination setting for the weekly magazine, and ends the
process shown in FIG. 9. If NRP=LP+1 and NLP=RP-1, the pagination process
determining unit 47 adds 1 to the variable N in step S17.

[0074] Following step S17, in step S18, the pagination process determining
unit 47 determines whether N>PrintFaces. If not N>PrintFaces, the
pagination process determining unit 47 repeats the process of steps
S12-S18. If N>PrintFaces, the pagination process determining unit 47
determines that it is the pagination setting for the weekly magazine,
ending the process shown in FIG. 9.

[0075] In other words, the pagination process determining unit 47 may
determine whether the pagination setting for the weekly magazine has been
made by checking for all of the number of printing faces as to whether
there is a match with the regularity of the page arrangement shown in
FIG. 8.

[0076] Next, determining a pagination setting for a mini-book which uses
the determining method 3 of the pagination setting is described. FIG. 10
is an image diagram of a page arrangement when the pagination setting for
the mini-book is made. As shown in FIG. 10, the page arrangement when the
pagination setting for the mini-book is made is such that page numbers on
the left and the right of a front face of the N-th sheet is a combination
of (N-1)×4+1 and (N-1)×4+1+3, so that subtracting 1 from a
larger page number on the front face of the N-th sheet causes it to
become equal to a larger page number on a back face of the N-th sheet and
adding 1 to a smaller page number on the front face of the N-th sheet
causes it to become equal to a smaller page number on a back face of the
N-th sheet. Then, the pagination process determining unit 47 uses the
regularity of the page arrangement shown in FIG. 10 to determine whether
it is the pagination setting for the mini-book.

[0077] FIG. 11 is an image diagram of an exemplary process which
determines whether it is the pagination setting for the mini-book.

[0078] In step S21, the pagination process determining unit 47 initializes
a variable. The pagination process determining unit 47 sets a total
number of printing faces of a paginated manuscript to a value of a
variable PrintPapers. Moreover, a variable N is set to 1 as a counter. In
step S22, the pagination process determining unit 47 records a page
number on the left side on the front face of the N-th sheet in a variable
FLP and stores a page number on the right side on the front face of the
N-th sheet into a variable FRP. In step S23, the pagination process
determining unit 47 records a page number on the left side on the back
face of the N-th sheet in a variable BLP and stores a page number on the
right side on the back face of the N-th sheet into a variable BRP. In
step S24, the pagination process determining unit 47 determines whether
FLP and FRP are a combination of (N-1)×4+1 and (N-1)×4+1+3.

[0079] If FLP and FRP are not the combination of (N-1)×4+1 and
(N-1)×4+1+3, the pagination process determining unit 47 determines
that it is not a pagination setting for a mini-book, and the process
shown in FIG. 11 is completed. If FLP and FRP are a combination of
(N-1)×4+1 and (N-1)×4+1+3, the pagination process determining
unit 47 determines whether FLP<FRP in step S25. If not FLP<FRP, the
pagination process determining unit 47 determines whether BLP=FRP+1 and
BRP=FLP-1 in step S26.

[0080] If not (BLP=FRP+1 and BRP=FLP-1), the pagination process
determining unit 47 determines that it is not the pagination setting for
the mini-book, and ends the process shown in FIG. 11. If BLP=FRP+1 and
BRP=FLP-1, the pagination process determining unit 47 adds 1 to the
variable N in step S28.

[0081] In step S25, if FLP<FRP, the pagination process determining unit
47 determines whether BRP=FLP+1 and BLP=FRP-1 in step S27. If not
(BRP=FLP+1 and BLP=FRP-1), the pagination process determining unit 47
determines that it is not a pagination setting for the mini-book, and
ends the process shown in FIG. 11. Moreover, if BRP=FLP+1 and BLP=FRP-1,
the pagination process determining unit 47 adds 1 to the variable N in
step S28.

[0082] Following step S28, in step S29, the pagination process determining
unit 47 determines whether N>PrintPapers. If not N>PrintPapers, the
pagination process determining unit 47 repeats the process of steps
S22-S29. If N>PrintPapers, the pagination process determining unit 47
determines that it is a pagination setting for the mini-book, ending the
process shown in FIG. 11.

[0083] In other words, the pagination process determining unit 47 may
determine whether the pagination setting for the min-book is made by
checking, for all of the printing sheets, whether there is a match with
the regularity of the page arrangement shown in FIG. 10.

[0084] Moreover, determining a speed pagination setting using the
determining method 3 of the pagination setting is described. FIG. 12 is
an image diagram of a page arrangement in a case in which the speed
pagination setting is provided. As shown in FIG. 12, the page arrangement
in the case in which the speed pagination setting is provided differs
between the time of double face printing and the time of single face
printing. Moreover, a page arrangement in the case in which the speed
pagination setting is provided is such that left and right page numbers
for the nth face is a combination of N and N+PrintFaces. Then, the
pagination process determining unit 47 uses the regularity of the page
arrangement shown in FIG. 12 to determine whether it is the speed
pagination setting.

[0085] FIG. 13 is an image diagram of an exemplary process which
determines whether it is the speed pagination setting.

[0086] In step S31, the pagination process determining unit 47 initializes
a variable. The pagination process determining unit 47 sets a total
number of printing faces of a paginated manuscript as a value of a
variable PrintFaces. Moreover, a variable N is set to 1 as a counter. In
step S32, the pagination process determining unit 47 records a page
number on the left side on the N-th face into a variable LP and stores a
page number on the right side on the N-th face into a variable RP.

[0087] In step S33, the pagination process determining unit 47 determines
whether LP and RP are a combination of N and N+PrintFaces. If the LP and
the RP are not the combination of the N and the N+Print Faces, it is
determined not the speed pagination setting, ending the process in FIG.
13.

[0088] If the LP and the RP are the combination of the N and the N+Print
Faces, the pagination process determining unit 47 adds 1 to the variable
N in step S34. Following step S34, in step S35, the pagination process
determining unit 47 determines whether N>PrintFaces. If not
N>PrintFaces, the pagination process determining unit 47 repeats the
process of steps S32-S35. If N>PrintFaces, the pagination process
determining unit 47 determines that it is the speed pagination setting,
ending the process shown in FIG. 13.

[0089] In other words, the pagination process determining unit 47 may
determine whether the speed pagination setting has been made by checking
for all of the number of printing faces as to whether there is a match
with the regularity of the page arrangement shown in FIG. 12.

[0090] For the above described determining methods 1 to 3 for pagination
setting, use may be possible such that the determining method 1 is
conducted first, the determining method 2 is conducted if it is not
possible to determine the pagination setting with the determining method
1, and, moreover, the determining method 3 is conducted if it is not
possible to distinguish the pagination setting with the determining
method 2.

[0091] The present invention makes it possible to determine a pagination
setting, and, if there is a change (except a release) from a
post-processing setting from which is obtained intended printing results
in the determined pagination setting, to provide a warning to a change on
the post-process setting with a high likelihood of it having been
performed erroneously. The release of the post-process setting is
determined to be performed intentionally. Therefore, for the release of
the post-process setting, the print server 12 does not display a warning
screen.

[0092] The present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments
disclosed, so that variations and changes are possible without departing
from the claims.

[0093] The present application is based on Japanese Priority Application
No. 2011-045639 filed on Mar. 2, 2011, the entire contents of which are
hereby incorporated by reference.